So I’ve gotten more old church bulletins. These are from 1975-1988. Primetime growing-up years for me. They are invoking some memories (more or less) about those church years.

• The great revival of 1987 – 15 people (mostly teens) were baptized during a Gospel Meeting in September, 1987. Looking over the names listed in the bulletin, only 2 of the baptizees are still active attendees at church (and those 2 only come on Sunday mornings). To get back to the original story of it, Bill Watkins came and had a gospel meeting during that time. Many of his sermons were emotionally based. (And there’s nothing wrong with that). I can remember the last sermon where he had the chairs lined up on the podium. He told what each of the chairs represents (the innocent child, the faithful Christian, the sinner, the backsliding Christian, the lukewarm Christian). And if he pointed to us we’d have to go and sit in the appropriate seat. Of course he never actually made anyone go up into the seat. It was more of a retorical question. This got the largest number of responses. Years later I saw him do the same sermon with less results. I guess coming off of the 10 persons baptized in one night, just can’t be topped.
  Still I wonder about these people who were baptized that week and ponder if we need to call up VH1 for a “Where are they now?” segment. Was their response based on emotionalism? Are they attending church elsewhere or not at all?
• My less than spectacular prayer leading. I can distinctly remember two specific times which I was asked to lead a public prayer at church and completely bombed. Once was during VBS when I was in 8th or 9th grade. The VBS director asked me to lead an impromptu prayer at the end. I wasn’t prepared at all for it and declined the invitation. The director later apologized to me for putting me on the spot, (which I thought was always cool; He didn’t have to apologize, but he did just to make sure we were both cool with each other. Most people wouldn’t have done that). The second time was when I was scheduled to lead a closing prayer Sunday or Wednesday night. (I was in junior high at the time) I stayed out in the foyer area pondering my thoughts during the closing song. In the end I ended up chickening out and ran out the doors and sat in my parents’ VW Rabbit feeling ashamed of myself. I doubt that anyone remembers that I chickened out of that. But to this day I still remember that and feel disgusted with myself over it. But on the positive end of things this is a story I tell the younger boys who are anxious about serving publicly at church. Anyone can get scared about doing that type of thing. You just have to make yourself do it. This seems to give them some sense of reality.
  I also distinctly remember once praying to God in church – thanking Him for the sick – a huge mess up… But more on that later on.

Suddenly its 1994 all over again. I’ve been going through some archived church bulletins, posting some of the more interesting articles on the web. Thank goodness for optical character readers so I don’t have to type all of this in. Scan it, then open it in WordPad. 21st century technology is wonderful.
So I’m reading “Echos from the Basement.” “Ken’s Korner.” “Magnify His Name.” Russian Trip reports. Building on our faith inituatives. You’ve come a long way, baby.
So I read about people who I’ve never heard of getting baptized or placing membership. Where are they? Did they fall through the cracks? I have no idea.
And Dot Zumbro loaned me some of her church bulletins from the 1970s. I’m going to try to find a notebook to put them in and then donate them to the church library. Interesting stuff. I don’t know how they printed them. Maybe using carbon paper. It’s obvious the type on there is old typewriter font on preprinted templates.

We talked about Proverbs tonight in the 5th and 6th grade class. The kids were kinda asleep or something. Perhaps their brains are drained due to school. Anger and Conflict was the subject tonight. You know, Proverbs does have alot to say about anger and temper. Take a look.
A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension,
but a patient man calms a quarrel.
Proverbs 15:18
A quick-tempered man does foolish things,
and a crafty man is hated.
Proverbs 14:17

A patient man has great understanding,
but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
Proverbs 14:29
A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty;
if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
Proverbs 19:19
A fool’s lips bring him strife,
and his mouth invites a beating.
A fool’s mouth is his undoing,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Proverbs 18:6-7
The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
for they refuse to do what is right.
Proverbs 21:7
Growing up I did have a temper. But I think I’ve mellowed out. Mostly because I can’t afford to loose my cool. And because I’m not in a position to have a strong opinion one way or another. Anyways I thought I’d write these down as a reference.

Visited Rockvale Church of Christ to hear Tim McHenry preach at a Gospel Meeting. Darrell found out about it through an ad in the paper. The topic tonight? Hell. And Tim handled it in a way I didn’t expect. Much of it was based on Jonathan Edward’s description in “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” without all the predestination stuff. More or less hell is a soul’s seperation from God. I was expecting a physical description of hell. Not so. Pretty much all Tim described was the fire. And more or less just mention it in passing.
Rockvale is a growing congregation. 245 in worship last Sunday morning. And its a rural church. Outgrown its building. Their auditorium holds about 150 at the most, so they have close circuit tv in other rooms elsewhere. We should do that. I hear they are looking into it.
Rockvale is going to have their ground breaking ceremony at their new church building site soon.
Afterwards Tim, Connie, the kids, Darrell and I went out to the Murfreesboro’s Bellacino’s for pizza. Good stuff. I’m glad I kept up with these people. They’re great friends.
Darrell has been thinking about going back to school. History major. To teach in the high schools. I told him to go for it. Who knows? It’s a whole new career change.
I have been thinking about a career change since this IT stuff just isn’t working out. Preacher? Youth Minister? I’d like to do that. The problem is that I don’t have the enthusiasm or zeal it would take to be a youth minister. Plus to be honest with you, some kids get on my nerves. It would be difficult to play nice guy to everybody. Preacher? Well you have to put up with a lot of junk in that type of job. I might crack under pressure. So its probably not for me.

16 years ago today I was baptized. I’ve already written in length about it, so I won’t bother rehashing what already has been said. Hopefully I’ve grown as a Christian since then. I’m now teaching 5th and 6th graders on Wednesday nights at church, being a counselor at camp, helping out with the a/v ministry at church, among other things. If someone had told me when I was baptized I’d be doing this, I probably wouldn’t have believed them. Imagine being told all the church responsibilities I’d have 16 years in the future at the point of being baptized.
One scared kid. That’s what I was back then.

I don’t like awkward moments. But that’s what video scavenger hunts are all about. I’m the van driver for about 8 kids for this church scavenger hunt. Our first assignment? Go to a public place and give strangers hugs. Much of the time people were willing to give people in our group hugs. Other times people simply flat out refused. One said “It’s an invasion of privacy!” So we moved on. Note to self: Don’t ever try to video tape in the Rite Aid Pharmacy in Mt. Juliet. They will run you out in a heart beat.
2nd assignment: Go to the MJ Kroger and scoot down the cereal aisle on your belly. Then gather round the lobster tank and sing “Light the Fire.” Yeah, we did all that while scouting out people with mullets.
3rd assignment: Go to Waffle House and sing along with the one of the Waffle House songs on the jukebox. How inconvenient that the MJ’s Waffle House’s Jukebox is suddenly broken. And it just happened to break right after the first group did their song and dance routine. There’s a waitress working there named Sapphira. Ananias is working the grill. Me thinks they just like lying to church youth groups. And we all know what happens when the Waffle House employees lie to church groups.
On to the Hermitage Waffle House where we get cussed out by a angry customer. “Keep your smart *** comments to yourself,” he said. Then he gives us the bird as we drive off after completing our mission.
4th assignment: Go to Charlie Daniels Park and perform your own song and dance routine. While on the way there we start hearing of tornado warnings for Wilson County. Great. I’ve got a van full of kids out in a public park, with lightning getting near. But the video scavenger hunt goes on.
5th assignment: Go to Burger King and order a cheeseburger without cheese. Then go through the drive thru and order a Big Mac and a McRib.
6th assignment: Go to a gas station and buy 10 cents worth of gas. Argh! We could only get 15 cents. Always went over by 5 cents.
Rushed quickly back to the church just in time for the high winds and heavy rains to start. We all crowd into the basement to wait out the storm.
As I said, I don’t like awkward moments. The kids seemed to get a kick out of giving strangers hugs and such. If things got out of hand I guess our church elders would be getting a call from the harassed member of the public or local business in question.

As I said before I think I’ve found my faith again. Not that any of that was ever gone completely. Due to actions against me I was frustrated at church in general. But now I know that no matter what someone has to say against me, God still loves me. God still has a plan for me.
Church is a good thing. At least it can be if you let it. Otherwise it could just be a country club for some people. A way to heaven for others. It is unfortunate that so many times politics get in the way of truly serving God.
Perhaps my purpose is to be a force of good for young people. I worry about them. Those that don’t have good influences. Either at home or at school or both. That’s the thing that keeps me up at night sometimes. It can be so difficult for them growing up without solid Christian influences.
Then there are those who are forced to change churches or schools due to circumstances…while at the same time having trouble fitting in. It’s a problem we all struggled with at one time or another. Fitting in. Peers can be cruel sometimes.

And I need to get back on my sleep cycle. Those late night Bible discussions with the kids until 1AM were interesting, but slightly tiring. I enjoyed it, but now I’m so tired all the time. Still trying to catch up. More to come later.

Stopped by Fountain Head church’s VBS tonight. Alot of the kids pointed out to their parents that the judge was in the house (namely me). I’m the judge of the cleanest cabins and all that at camp. I guess I carry that title with me eternally…or until the next camp.
Anyways the people there were all extremely nice as always. It is truly nice to be able to go elsewhere and find friendly people there.
It was Mission Possible. Guess that must be the theme for VBS’s everywhere these days. I’ll probably head up to Corinth and find it there too. Christianity is the Possible Mission. Grain of a mustard seed and all that. Moving mountains by faith instead of making mountains out of molehills. You can do amazing things with just a little bit of faith. And I need faith these days.
So Mt. Juliet’s VBS has been going on this week. 308 and 304 yesterday and today respectively. I’ll predict we’ll have 400 by the end of the week. Maybe. The next door neighbor’s kid came with us today. I barely know her. She seemed to have a good time. Maybe the seed has been planted for her too. I don’t know.
Our theme is “Egypt” or “Treasures of the Nile” or something. I’ve been fairly clueless or just not listening to the lessons. Treasures of the Nile? Is that the story of Moses? Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat? I’m not totally sure. All I know is that I got back from church camp and found a pyramid in front of the church. There are pool toys everywhere in the church building. There must have been a run on the alligator floats at Walmart or something.
What I’ve found is that VBS hasn’t changed much since I was a kid. Except the kids have cokes instead of punch. They’re still giving away 3 cookies only. The 3 cookie limit still stands to this day. I guess with so many kids, you have to limit it or you’d be spending alot on cookies.
Anyways folks. It’s time to sign off….

I visited Morgantown for VBS tonight. Let me tell you. There is nothing on the Hatcher Toll way between Bowling Green and Morgantown. Nothing. Nadda. Consequently there is no exit for several miles between BG and Morgantown.
Morgantown is comparable to Smithville. A few fast food restaurants and your typical small town businesses. Nothing huge or anything. I’m sure alot of people live there and work in Bowling Green.
It’s probably a nice town where you can’t get lost. I still didn’t get the chance to visit the Morgantown Pamida. One thing I’ve noticed about these Pamida stores: There is always one near church camps.
Examples: Taylor Christian Camp – Pamida in Scottsville.
Short Mountain Bible Camp – Pamida in Smithville.
Camp Meribah – Pamida in Centerville.
There’s a pattern here somewhere or another.
VBS at Morgantown was good. I was thinking since I hadn’t had supper, I’d have to grab something on the way out (I was hoping the McDonald’s would still be open). But luckily the VBS snack table was fully stocked with hot dogs and homemade ice cream (a Morgantown church specialty).
Afterwards Johnny told me how he became a minister. Somehow I couldn’t imagine him doing anything else. I wish I had the charisma and can-do attitude that it takes to be a minister. Once I took a personality test in college. The test said that I should be a minister. Unfortunately I do not have the speaking ability to be able to convey the message properly.
Ministering to people would be very fullfilling. However I’m not sure I could handle the other negative stuff that will get thrown my way if I was to be a minister. I hate confrontation and am not much of a people person. So its a mere pipe dream right now. Bottom line is that I’m not minister material.

Gave my El Salvador speil at Villages church of Christ. I was told I did a good job. I didn’t stumble too much. I’m not a preacher, you know. I’m just Joe Christian.
A plethora of VBS’s start tomorrow. Mt. Juliet, Morgantown, Fountain Head, and Scottsville. Crazy as it sounds, I’m going to try to go to them. I’ll be at Mt. Juliet’s all week. Taking pictures and doing the sound system thing. The others are nighttime VBS’s which I should be able to make visits to. After I rest and recoperate from MJ’s VBS. We already have 200 kids pre-registered, so it will probably be the biggest ever.
I like daytime VBS’s over night time VBS’s. But I realize that sometimes daytime classes aren’t an option if you don’t have the staff to teach it. Luckily we are able to do daytime VBS’s at Mt. Juliet. The last night time one we had was in the 80s sometime. Kids are usually cranky at night. They’re more adept to learning during the day.